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Seattle salmon fishing charters

Chinook, Coho and Pink salmon on Puget Sound, fished the way locals fish them — cut-plug mooching, light tackle, and a rod in your hands the whole time.

Where we fish for salmon

We run out of Shilshole Bay Marina, Dock V, which puts us minutes from open water. Depending on the season and where the fish are holding, we work Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton) and Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), including the Possession Bar — one of the most productive salmon structures in the region.

Being based in Seattle proper matters more than it sounds. You are not driving ninety minutes to Westport at 4am. You park at the marina, step onto the boat, and you are fishing.

The salmon you can catch

Chinook are the prize — the largest and hardest-fighting of the Pacific salmon. Coho are the acrobats; they run and jump and are enormously fun on light gear. Pinks show up in huge numbers on odd years and are the best possible fish for a first-timer or a kid, because you will get bites.

How we fish: cut-plug mooching

We mooch. A cut-plug herring is a whole baitfish with its head cut at an angle so it spins as it sinks — an injured, fleeing herring, which is exactly what a salmon is looking for. You drop it, you feel it, and when a salmon eats it you know, because the rod is in your hand and not in a holder.

This is the difference between mooching and trolling. Trolling drags gear behind a moving boat and the rod sits in a holder until a fish hooks itself. It catches fish, and there is nothing wrong with it. But you are a passenger. Mooching makes you the angler. If you want to fish, rather than be taken fishing, this is the trip.

Salmon seasons on Puget Sound

Salmon openings in Puget Sound are set annually by WDFW through the North of Falcon process, and they vary by marine area, by species, and sometimes by day of the week. There is no fixed calendar we can print that will still be true next year.

What you need to bring

Almost nothing. Rods, reels, tackle, bait and life vests are all provided. You need a Washington fishing licence with a salmon catch record card — a one-day licence can be issued onboard, or you can buy one in advance through the MyWDFW app. Bring layers, non-marking soft-soled shoes, sunglasses, and something to carry fillets home in.

We clean and fillet your catch at the dock. You leave with fish, not with a chore.

Common questions

What salmon can you catch in Seattle?

Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Pink (Humpy) and Chum (Keta) salmon are all caught in Puget Sound out of Seattle. Which are open depends on the season and marine area, set annually by WDFW.

Do I need a fishing licence for a Seattle salmon charter?

Yes. Washington requires a fishing licence and a salmon catch record card. A one-day licence can be issued onboard, or bought in advance via the MyWDFW app.

What is cut-plug mooching?

A cut-plug is a whole herring with its head cut at an angle so it spins as it sinks, imitating an injured baitfish. You hold the rod and feel the bite, unlike trolling where the rod sits in a holder.

How long is a Seattle salmon charter?

Our salmon trips run six hours, departing at 6:00 AM from Shilshole Bay Marina, Dock V.